10 Aug 2013

Madonna looks ready for bed as she attends the Menton music festival in southern France with boyfriend Brahim Zaibat

Madonna looked a little rough around
the edges on Saturday when she arrived in the south of France
accompanied by boyfriend Brahim Zaibat. The
54-year-old singer was paying a visit to Menton, a picturesque coastal
town close to the French-Italian border and site of the annual Festival
de Musique de Menton – a celebration of classical music with
performances from a range of global artists and symphony orchestras. Dressed
a little less provocatively than usual in a polka dotted black dress
and white cardigan, Madonna was spotted taking in performances from
concert pianist sisters Katia and Marielle Labèque and Basque band
Kalakan, with whom the singer is close friends.

Ready for bed: Madonna looks washed out as she attends a performance at the Menton Music Festival in southern France

But while Zaibat looked bright
and cheerful in a Comme des Garcons T-shirt, his famous girlfriend
looked distinctly weary as they entered the venue for a night of world
music. Indeed, Madonna
appeared to be ready for a good nights sleep as she ran a hand through
her hair, her eyes downcast as she followed festival art director Paul
Thomas Emmanuel into the event, with a grinning Zaibat bringing up the
rear. The Borderline
singer added a touch of mainstream glamour to an event not generally
known for attracting mainstream celebrities.

Exhausted: The pop legend runs a hand through
her hair as she arrives at the venue for a performances from piano
sisters Katia and Marielle LabËque and Basque trio Kalakan with Zaibat
and festival artistic director Paul Thomas Emmanuel

Eyes right: Something has caught Madonna's eye as she arrives accompanied by her young boyfriend

Seats please: The festival director places a hand on the hitmaker's back as she makes her way to her seat

But while she was warmly
greeted at the event, she’s said to be less welcome in Russia after
reportedly violating the terms of her visa by claiming money for a
performance in St. Petersburg last year. According to ABC performers are not allowed to earn money in the country while visiting on a tourist visa. Lady
Gaga has been accused of breaching the same rule while performing in
Moscow and St. Petersburg with her Born This Way tour in 2012, but
insiders claim real the source of the controversy is their apparent
promotion of gay rights while visitors.

Passing the time: Madonna and Zaibat chat to another guest as they wait for the performance to get underway

Something to smile about: The singer finds something funny as she arrives at the event in southern France with Brahim Zaibat

‘The Russian government is
sending a shot across the bow to Lady Gaga, Madonna, and other
performers who are taking up gay rights in Russia,’ Centre for the
National Interest executive director Paul Saunders told ABC.

During
her concert in Russia, Madonna reportedly told the audience: ‘Gay
people here and all around the world have the same rights.’ The
comment is understood to have incensed advocates of St. Petersburg’s
anti-gay law, which prohibits people to openly talk about homosexuality
around minors. Anyone breaking the law face potential fines, deportation and – in extreme cases – imprisonment.

Material girl: Madonna looked surprisingly
low-key in a black polka-dotted dress and white cardigan at the Menton
music festival